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The Rise of SMB Tech: Top 5 Takeaways from TimeToValue Conference Keynote for High Tech Organizations
The Rise of SMB Tech
It comes as no surprise that High Tech organizations are in the midst of unprecedented times, facing a multitude of challenges as they work to keep up with the technology innovation curve. Leaders within the industry must proactively build out robust strategies that keep them ahead of their competitors, enable market agility and penetrations, whilst staying engaged with their customers and staff.
Throughout the two-day TimeToValue Conference, industry-specific and thought leaders weighed in on a number of High Tech sessions to reflect and expand on SMB Tech figures and trends, while forecasting on future insights.
We’ve outlined some key learnings below from the High Tech keynote season, “The Rise of SMB Tech”, which featured a discussion between Jeff Richards, Managing Director at GGV Capital and Tiffany Luck, Vice President at GGV Capital, who provided thoughtful insights quotes, which we’ve highlighted below.
The full session recordings are also available on the TimeToValue Conference website here.
Top 5 ways SMBs are disrupting the status quo
1. A different decade
Over the past 10-15 years, we have seen four major shifts occur, which have ultimately led to the rise of SMB tech. SMBs are in a unique position, as they are being propelled by software and technology providers to continually challenge the industry norm and expand their capabilities.
Cloud: Through a digital transformation to cloud services, SMBs were put in an ideal situation to position their businesses with a strong growth plan. By moving to cloud services, infrastructure costs were significantly reduced, allowing SMBs the opportunity to allocate costs to other key areas of their business.
Mobile: The launch of the iPhone took accessible technology to a whole new level. By introducing these devices into everyone’s hands, SMB owners saw new levels of consumer enablement and engagement, which inspired SMBs to get creative in terms of their product development and services. Innovative thinking from the App Store enabled SMBs to get in front of consumers at their fingertips, while at the same time, tech companies found this as an opportunity to get in front of SMB owners with products that helped them propel their small businesses.
Digital: The emergence of social media and digital marketing allowed SMB owners the opportunity to engage with the right audience and tailor their messaging towards their key consumers.
Payments: Companies like Braintree and Stripe drastically reduced the cost for SMBs to integrate payments into their offerings. This ease of payment saw extremely positive outcomes on overall customer experience and retention. Not only were customers pleased, but SMB Tech companies were fully on board, as this supplemented their revenue streams.
“Putting technology in the hands of everyone...started a wave of technology adoption that sprung from consumer to SMB and into Enterprise.”Tiffany Luck, Vice President at GGV Capital
2. Soaring to new heights
Reflecting back to the start of the decade, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the tremendous growth the industry’s seen. To go from just one public SMB Tech Company in 2010 (Intuit), to 22 public SMB Tech companies now in 2020, the growth trajectory shows that these companies are up an average of 56% in 2020, vs Nasdaq which is up roughly 35% (according to GGV Capital’s SMBTech Index). Even more impressive is that this category has grown from $15B to $55B in this timeframe.
“There’s a lot of opportunity, and we’re really just getting started. This looks really bright for the future.”
— Tiffany Luck, Vice President at GGV Capital
Businesses can no longer be “offline-only.” The adoption of this mentality and the pace at which technology is being adopted in order to adjust, has been hastened dramatically by COVID-19. Throughout this pandemic, SMBs have shown great resilience and have adapted to new global standards very quickly.
3. Checking all the boxes
It became clear that all top SMB Tech companies share a common thread of characteristics which allow them to be successful, topical and ever-evolving. The attributes that allow SMBs to stand out as industry leaders include:
- Strong focus on SMB customer needs vs enterprise client needs
- Knowing what direction to go: Provide an industry-specific solution or a solution focused on a specific need across all industries
- Deep understanding of unit economics and churn: There will always be natural churn. This needs to be accounted for and have either lower cost of acquisition or higher customer retention.
- Being in the payment flow: Supplement recurring SaaS revenue and build and maintain customer retention.
- Creating network effects where possible and building a strong user community. Within SMB Tech there can be a strong sense of a united mission and support of SMBs and local economies.
“Especially at the very early stages of the company, focusing on core SMB customer needs helps build a sustainable business over time.”
— Tiffany Luck, Vice President at GGV Capital
4. Technology saves in tough times
In the wake of COVID-19, we’ve seen how SMBs have used this time to grow their business and expand their services. There’s tremendous optimism towards a brighter future, as SMB owners are embracing the opportunities to launch new products and adapt quickly to our changing climate, due to the ease of technology for the consumer.
GGV Capital conducted a Small Business Survey which showed great promise for SMBs in the year ahead, stating that 83% of owners believe their business will improve in 2021, along with an overwhelming expectation to increase software spending in the next year. It’s also expected to be a strong year for growth and expansion, with 93% of SMBs planning to hire new talent in 2021, as they’ve proven to be in a healthy position with new business activity and fewer bankruptcies than expected.
5. Forecasting a bright future
Throughout the past year, small business owners have proven their resilience and ability to adapt to the new norm that has and continues to evolve. We’ve seen companies shift the way they do business as a result of the pandemic, from remote workforces to technology advancements, which ultimately has allowed them to come out the other side stronger than before.
E-commerce, telemedicine and cloud in general are well positioned to grow and have paved the way for new retail, entertainment and food service concepts to successfully launch in 2021.
New year, new times in tech
The quick rise of SMB Tech has been quite impressive and it’s poised for continued growth heading into 2021.
This past year has shown that SMB Tech solutions have enabled SMB owners to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business and engaging their customers.
In the face of a global pandemic, we’ve learned that SMBs are quite resilient and will continue to lead the way as we enter a new year and post-pandemic period. We can expect them to continue to embrace technologies that will allow them to provide maximum benefit to their customers, while ensuring they’re well-positioned to face the next opportunity, whatever that may be.


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Azmin: MSMEs must adopt critical digital skills
15 Sep 2022
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region must be equipped with critical digital skills, including upskilling and reskilling, to ensure continuity of growth, says Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Stressing on the importance of capacity building for MSMEs, he said trade policies in Asean such as the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) need to be reviewed to strengthen supply chain connectivity in the region and for the benefit of the people and MSMEs.
“The proposed revision and upgrading of ATIGA must be forward looking, comprehensive and more responsive to global and regional development to include new challenges such as green technology and digital economy.
“It must also be relevant to private sectors and businesses in order for the real benefits of such advancement to be enjoyed by the people, particularly the MSMEs and the youth,” Azmin said at the 54th Asean economic ministers’ meeting and related meetings in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
He said it is important for Asean’s sectoral bodies to continue working together amidst the uncertainties of the global economic environment to complete the initiatives identified under the Asean Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF).
The scope of the ACRF needs to be expanded as the lessons learnt during its implementation will significantly aid in the formulation of a resilient Asean Post-2025 Vision agenda, he said.
For higher supply chain resilience in the Asean region, the minister proposed the introduction of a regional stockpile initiative.
The initiative would entail the keeping of a national stockpile of critical products by each member country.
The stockpile products are those that a particular country has comparative advantage relative to other trading partners, he said.
Source: The Star

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J. Elle first burst onto the writing scene with the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy novel, Wings of Ebony. Elle is back with book two of her series, Ashes of Gold, which tackles racism, privilege and love. Ashes of Gold is book two of a duology. To better grasp Ashes of Gold, should people read Wings […]
Jorja Smith has admitted she felt like she needed some time off this year to reconnect with herself and get inspiration for her new music. Jorja Smith lost her “creativity” last year. The 22-year-old singer is hoping to take some time out this year to find the time to watch “cool films” to inspire her […]
Fans are getting sick of Nicki Minaj’s tired tantrums and histrionics because she is no longer the center of gravity in the female hip-hop game and that the genre that seemingly orbited around her has, for the time being, moved to her hated rival. They accused the “Anaconda” rapper of blatant hypocrisy for exploiting her […]
Emmy and Tony Award winning actress Viola Davis recently shared her thoughts on the call for African-Americans to boycott the upcoming Academy Awards because of its lack of diversity. “The problem is not with the Oscars, the problem is with the Hollywood movie-making system,” Davis said at Elle‘s recent 6th Annual Women in Television Dinner. After […]
Songstress Teyana Taylor returns to her roots in Harlem, New York, for a new fashion feature in Elle Magazine. G.O.O.D. Music’s first lady, known for her tomboy aesthetic, took the fashion publication on a tour of her hometown while showcasing some of this season’s fliest fashions from Ellery Mayfair, Calvin Klein, and her go-to designer, Alexander […]
Kelly Rowland teamed up with Lance Gross for a beautiful pregnancy photo shoot with very classy nudes. The photos, which were shot by Lance Gross, were released alongside Mrs. Witherspoon’s Elle story, in which she describes her diet and fitness regime during her pregnancy and her expectations for life after. It’s been an amazing experience watching some of […]
Jeanne Deroo, Editor of French Elle, created an uproar after she released a photo of herself wearing blackface and an Afro wig. Deroo claimed that she was attempting to portray Solange Knowles while attending a private party. But after posting the picture on her Instagram page, it instantly went viral. Once the picture caused outrage, […]
Female-driven magazines often have major influences on the perception of beauty. But when the most popular magazines lack diversity, it can subliminally tarnish the self-image of those who rarely see their likeness on the cover. According to a report by Huffington Post, several of the most popular magazines in the nation aren’t interested in featuring […]
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Who knew that Kim Kardashian, an admitted fashionista whose fashion finds are photographed nearly everyday by gawkers and stylists alike, is still snubbed by high-end fashion designers. Kim K recently did a photo-shoot with Elle Magazine for their March issue and the stylist for the shoot, Nicola Formichetti, stated, “People wouldn’t lend me the clothes. […]


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There’s a reason to be excited about the coming weekend as the‘Perfect Selfie’ phone, the Vivo V5 Plus is set to launch on January 21 and 22, Saturday and Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium, in what is expected to be a celebrity-filled event.
Basketball Superstar Stephen Curry is the face of Vivo’s newest flagship model, the Vivo V5 Plus.
Local stars—including guest performers like singer KZ Tandingan and Pinoy Boyband Superstar’s Tony Labrusca and James Ryan Cesena—, Vivo key opinion leaders like fashion blogger Verniece Enciso, top technology bloggers, and significant personalities from the smartphone market will be joining the big reveal.
Vivo V5 Plus, called the perfect selfie phone will be launched on January 21, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The newest smartphone from Vivo, one of the top five global premium smartphone brands, is an ideal fit for today’s newest trend—the ‘selfie’ phenomenon.
Taking a selfie—a self-shot taken with a hand-held camera phone or one supported by a selfie stick—has truly become a part of every Filipino routine. For most netizens, taking selfies and posting these on social media is the way to go.
KZ Tandingan, known for her hits Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako and Scared to Death, will be serenading guests during the Vivo V5 Plus big reveal.
Guest performers for the Vivo V5 Plus launch include Tony Labrusca of Pinoy Boyband Superstar.
James Ryan Cesena, the Fil-French heartthrob from Pinoy Band Superstar, will also be joining the Vivo V5 Plus launch.
With the selfie’s popularity growing unabated, smartphone manufacturers have been producing phones with camera-focused features. Which is why Vivo, known for its high-quality smartphones, is set to launch its newest flagship model, equipped with the most advanced selfie technology to date: the Vivo V5 Plus.
The Vivo V5 Plus is likewise endorsed by one of the biggest stars in sports today, NBA’s Stephen Curry, who earlier said that he shares the same core values with the brand: energy, professionalism, and pleasure.
Notable features of the Vivo V5 Plus include its dual front-facing cameras: a 20-megapixel and 8-megapixel combination, a soft-light flash that enables the user to take selfies even in poor lighting conditions, a face beauty mode 6.0 that corrects blemishes, and the “bokeh” effect—the well-loved photography filter that instantly blurs the background of any focused object.
Vivo V5 Plus is also equipped with a 16-megapixel rear camera.
Two-time MVP and Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is the face of Vivo’s newest flagship model, the Vivo V5 Plus.
Says Hazel Bazcon, Vivo Philippines Vice President , “We are excited that the Vivo V5 Plus is finally launching here in the Philippines, as Filipinos are known to be selfie lovers. The phone’s advanced selfie features will surely take the Filipino selfie experience to the next level.”
Full specifications of the newest Vivo model will be released during the event.
For inquiries about Vivo V5 Plus, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph, or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivophil) accounts.
Check out other VIP events here.


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Here’s the latest action:
1) AOL buys Quigo for a reported $300 million
2) Cars compete, and collide, at yearly DARPA competition
3) Yahoo feeling its startup vittles?
4) AOL and CBS dump hi-def project
5) Digg may buy CoRank and Meneame
6) Radar launches photo-sharing channels
7) No Second Life investment, after all
8) Zilok launches rental service in US
9) Salesforce Ideas kicks off service
10) Google’s got the short stuff
AOL to snap up another advertising company — After Time Warner/AOL acquired targeted advertiser Tacoda just over three months ago for a reported $300 million, one might expect AOL to spend time digesting its prey. Instead, it has plowed another $300 million into Quigo, an Israeli advertising startup. Quigo has two products. The first, AdSonar, is much like Google’s AdSense. It provides paid links in user’s search results. The second, FeedPoint, crawls websites to extract data used for pay-per-click advertising campaigns. Quigo, founded in 2001, had raised about $45 million in financing from investors including Highland Capital Partners and Steamboat Ventures. There’s still some action left in Internet ad stakes.
Can robots drive cars? — This year, the Grand Challenge, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) featured cars racing along a city course while surrounded by traffic. The goal was for the car, without a driver, to complete the course as quickly as possible. Carnegie Mellon and Stanford won first and second prize, respectively. But one car from MIT collided with another car. One from Florida slammed into a building. The prize was $3.5 million. More here.
Yahoo feeling youthful again? — A trio of news items popped up earlier this week about new Yahoo startups: Kickstart, FireEagle, and Zync. The first, the product of Yahoo’s “Advanced Products Group,” is a new social network intended to help college students plan their future. Keep in mind that Yahoo has been struggling with the idea of social networks for quite a while, with Yahoo 360 down the tubes and Mash not looking likely to compete well against Facebook, Hi5, MySpace and others. You might call Kickstart a Facebook with a point. Then again, will anyone really want a Facebook that isn’t a frivolous time-waster?
FireEagle is from Yahoo’s San Francisco incubator, the BrickHouse. It’s a location service: Enter where you are, or send the information via a GPS-enabled phone, and it’ll return nearby listings. A good idea, but one that plenty of others have had; see this post for details on a few. Yahoo’s best bet on competing will be to use its big-company positioning to throw weight behind the product. Finally, Zync allows users of Yahoo’s instant messaging client to watch YouTube videos together. Basically, a feature, and one that’s already included in the latest version, Yahoo Messenger 9.0.
AOL and CBS call it quits on Hi-Q — More AOL news, really? This time, it’s a failed project (more in line with what we normally hear about from the company). Hi-Q, a joint venture with CBS, was set up two years ago to offer high-definition video online. There were a few problems with the idea: The player required a download, it didn’t work on all computers, and HD downloads are too slow for the zero-patience population of the Internet. Fair warning, for all the other companies just getting into the HD game (more on the development of HD here).
Digg is in talks to buy companies CoRank and Meneame — At least, that’s the rumor at the Social News Insider and Mashable. CoRank lets people build their own social news sites. Meneame is a Spanish Digg clone.
Radar, the mobile photo-sharing applications, launches content channels — Radar lets users share and comment on cameraphone photos and videos via their mobile or web browser. It has been growing quickly, lately, having hit half a million users a few weeks ago. Yesterday, it introduced channels with syndicated third-party content — videos from Vimeo, movie promotions and such.
Massive Second Life investment? Nope, just trade in owner — We reported in April that Second Life was raising money at a whopping valuation of $500 million or more, but the company said there was no truth to it. Now we’ve learned what happened. Techcrunch reports that Catamount Ventures, one of the first investors in Second Life, has sold 10 percent of its stake in the company, which the firm had picked up in 2000. The sale was apparently made at a huge valuation. Jed Smith, the Catamount Managing Director who sits on the board of Second Life’s parent company, Linden Labs, confirmed the sale, but wouldn’t comment on the exact price.
Zilok, lets you rent anything you own — And you can rent it out to anyone. The service has opened in the US (at us.zilok.com), after launching in France a few weeks ago.
Digg-for-ideas – Salesforce has released “Salesforce Ideas,” which lets companies give customers a way to post ideas about how to improve products. It requires buying a license for between $50-$100 per user per month, however. We’ve reported on the alternative, Satisfaction, which is free. See Techcrunch story for more.
Google still trying to compete in China – Its latest move: Buying g.cn, a rare single-letter domain name, as the home of its Chinese search portal. If you can’t beat ’em with functionality, beat ’em with convenience.
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Flip Flop Shops expands to South Africa
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- Carla Caldwell, Morning Edition Editor
Atlanta-based Flip Flop Shops is expanding to South Africa. The news comes on the heels of the company’s announcement in late January it has inked a franchise deal with Al Mana Fashion Group to open 50 stores in the Middle East.
The company says it will develop 25 additional shops throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.
"The global footwear market is a nearly $200 billion industry, and the growth within the flip flops and casual footwear segment is explosive," said Brian Curin, the President and Co-Founder of Flip Flop Shops. "Flip Flop Shops' continued expansion into new international markets, including Canada, the Caribbean, the Middle East and now South Africa, is proof positive that consumers worldwide are looking to embrace the lifestyle benefits of more relaxed, casual footwear."
The expansion is part of a master franchise agreement with Barefoot, an experienced retail group in the region. The first Flip Flop Shops location is expected to open by mid-year, with additional shops opening throughout the region over the next 10 years, Flip Flop Shops said.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Flip Flop Shops runs nearly 100 locations globally and has more than 100 shops in development, not including the expansion to the Middle East and South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.
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Tesco veteran Jill Easterbrook quits supermarket
LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - One of Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis' most experienced lieutenants has quit Britain's biggest supermarket after 15 years at the firm.
Tesco said on Monday that Jill Easterbrook, who has held the post of group business transformation director since January, has decided to leave the company early next year.
Easterbrook, who sat on Tesco's executive committee, joined the company in 2001 and has held leadership roles across the group including retail operations, group strategy, corporate affairs, clothing (stores and online), developing businesses and marketing.
In October Tesco posted a 55 percent slump in first-half pretax profit but said it was trading ahead of expectations and outperforming rivals. (Reporting by James Davey)
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As far as scooter rallies go, 2020 has sadly pretty much been written-off socially thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. Event organisers have understandably had to cancel everything due to Government restrictions, as well as for the safety of both those working and those attending too. It might seem easy on paper to put together a … Continue reading Scooter Rallies 2021 – Official BSRA dates
If you've not seen the latest edition 20 of ScooterNova magazine yet, one of the most popular features inside seems to be the overview of the Lambretta J-range, the smallframe rivals to the little Vespas from Piaggio. Apart from the history of the model from development and through production, the article looks at the growing … Continue reading What was your first Lambretta?
In normal circumstances we'd have ridden the best part of 200 miles down to the Big 7 scooter rally in Kent yesterday, had a good party there last night and woke up this morning in a tent feeling slightly worse for wear! However, never ones to shirk responsibilities, we here at ScooterNova along with our … Continue reading Big 7 Scooter Rally
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As I type this blog I know that in a perfect world I should really be riding my classic Lambretta home from Devon, which is where the Mike Karslake Memorial Rally was due to take place this weekend. Unfortunately of course, 2020 has become an uncertain and rather unpleasant year for all, so instead I'm … Continue reading The First Lambretta Museum
Following on from our ScooterNova magazine online competition that began on Friday morning to win one of five sets of BSRA Rally shirts and patches, we're pleased to announce that five winners were randomly drawn this morning from the many entries that were received in such a short space of time! The lucky people are … Continue reading BSRA 2020 Shirt & Patch Winners


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We talk about desktop and mobile but there's a third platform that is the new battleground for tech companies, says Buzzfeed COO Jon Steinberg.» Read More
The Dow plunged more than 400 points as the sharpest jump in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years and rocketing oil prices sparked concerns about stagflation. Oil jumped more than $11 a barrel to close at a record $138.54.
Stocks plunged as the sharpest jump in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years and rocketing oil prices sparked concerns about stagflation. Oil jumped more than $11 a barrel to close at a record $138.54.. Chevron was the lone star on the Dow. Nat Semi jumped -- a rare feat on this landslide day -- after the chip maker posted better-than-expected earnings.
Stocks plunged after the sharpest jump in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years and news that wholesale inventories ballooned. Oil jumped $6 a barrel. Chevron was the lone star on the Dow. Nat Semi jumped -- a rare feat on this landslide day -- after the chip maker posted better-than-expected earnings.
May's employment report will make or break the market's momentum Friday. Traders say if the 8:30 a.m. report is in line with expectations or even better-than-expected, watch for the rally to continue. If it's worse, stocks will give back some of Thursday's gains.
In spite of the built-in WiFi, the touch-screen that lets users manipulate data and an accelerometer that allows the on-screen image to rotate with the device, the reality is, without a network that allows users to fully realize its capabilities, the iPhone is only achieving a portion of its potential.
Yahoo President Susan Decker said Wednesday there are "ongoing, engaged talks" with Microsoft.
Starting today we're bringing you real-time quotes straight from the Nasdaq.
Some brief background so we're on the same page: the Tesla is the world's first, ultra-high-end, ultra-performance, electric sports car. The anti-Prius in virtually every way except for that one: it's electric.
Oil dropped $4, Dell posted a higher-than-expected profit, and Google's paid-click growth surged in April. What's the "Word on the Street?"
Comcast 's digital unit is on target to turn profitable this year as revenues from search and advertising partnerships with Google and Yahoo exceed expectations, senior executives said.
Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang said on Wednesday that a potential deal with Microsoft has tremendous power, but that the software giant appears no longer interested in a full merger.
Gates and Ballmer started with a trip down memory lane, talking about one of the tech industry's most enduring and successful relationships, stretching back 28 years. And it was an opportunity Ballmer almost missed out, thanks to the subtle recruitment strategy by Gates.
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The Dow ended higher Tuesday led by technology companies as a sharp drop in crude oil prices rekindled hopes of increased consumer and business spending on tech gear...
Stocks closed with solid gains, led by technology companies such as Apple, as investors bet that a sharp drop in crude oil prices will help shore up consumer and business spending on tech gear.
Oil rose on Friday due to the weak U.S. dollar and ongoing long-term supply concerns. What's the "Word on the Street?"
It wasn't too long ago that Apple Inc. was out of favor on Wall Street, the stock languishing, the outlook nebulous, the bears drooling at the raise-'em-up-tear-'em-down prospects of one of the most compelling companies in all of technology.
Executives from across Europe's technology, media and telecoms sector fear Internet search and advertising giant Google may steal their business, they told a Reuters summit this week.


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Federal ban hits hopes for live trade
The Federal animal welfare regulator is “sapping industry confidence” with its plans potentially to extend the live sheep trade’s standstill by a month, WA’s sheep producers and livestock exporters say.
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources could potentially delay the resumption of live sheep shipping to October 1, as it considers three options for Middle East voyages during the northern hemisphere summer.
Shipping has been halted for almost two months after industry imposed a three-month moratorium, initially meant to stop consignments from June 1 to August 31.
However, DWER is considering extending the prohibition until September 30 and resuming shipments on October 1 taking “into account evidence that demonstrates September remains as hot, or hotter than June”.
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DWER noted resuming the trade on September 1, which remains an option, would present “a higher risk of a heat-stress event and it “does not prefer this option”, according to “the available evidence”.
Another proposal is to extend the shipping ban until September 22 for Red Sea destinations and to September 30 for live sheep exports to ports in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Perenjori and Eneabba sheep producer Chris Patmore, who is the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA livestock chairman, said possibly delaying the resumption of shipping to October would hurt farmers.
“Asking for submissions on proposed changes is really disruptive and really sapping industry confidence,” he said.
“Producers have already set their on-farm programs to have their sheep leaving by mid-August ready for a September shipments, so to spring this has been really disruptive.
“We are still hoping common sense prevails and shipping restarts on September 1.”
PGA has written to interim independent inspector-general of live animal exports Ross Carter to express concerns about the new northern summer shipping proposals.
It is understood livestock exporters have begun buying sheep in anticipation of the trade’s resumption on September 1.
WA Livestock Exporters’ Association chairman John Cunnington, below, said exporters were confident they could achieve good animal welfare outcomes with September shipments to the Middle East.
“Exporters have put the moratorium in place, with an understanding of shipping conditions, to lower risk and not ship through June, July and August,” he said.
“Exporters have considered September and believe that sheep can be shipped safely during that period and that’s why the moratorium didn’t continue through to September.”
A 10-day submission period on DWER’s three proposed live sheep exporting options to the Middle East for September and October this year closed on Monday.
After submissions are considered, DWER’s final decision is expected to be made “as soon as possible” with any new northern hemisphere summer shipping conditions to come into effect on September 1.
Separately, Mecardo has been engaged by research and development body LiveCorp to shine a light on the live trade’s downstream economic benefit.
The market analyst organisation is calling on sheep producers and exporters to take part in two surveys, which can be completed in under five minutes.
All others involved along the supply chain, including livestock road carriers and sheep fencing manufacturers, are urged to complete the sheep export value to supply chain participants survey.
Mecardo is also seeking responses from supply chain participants such as shearers, vets, dock workers, stockmen and livestock agents. The surveys, available on the Mecardo website, will be open until July 30.
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As with much of the world, the diamond market has undergone something of a turbulent year. A report from Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Bain & co showed that production of the gem was strong at the beginning of 2019, though as the pandemic began to rear its head, closures and declining demand rippled across the sector. China was a good indication of the global downwards trend, with an estimated 75% of jewelry stores on the mainland shutting down as lockdown measures were introduced.
Concerns over ethical practice have consistently dogged the diamond industry, something which has only been magnified in some areas by the pandemic. For instance, IPIS research found the number of children under 15 working in minerals production in the western Central Africa Republic has risen since the Covid-19 outbreak – increasing from an average of 10 children per site in 2019 to 15 in 2020 as school closures pushed adolescents into the mines. With all this at play, it’s clear that the diamond industry still has some hurdles to face in its path to a full recovery.
The pandemic’s pitfalls
Paul Zimnisky, a diamond industry analyst, says that the diamond sector had been on something of a downwards trajectory for a few years due to depleting stocks of multiple ‘legacy mines’, as well as minimal new production offsets – an inevitable trend that the pandemic only served to exacerbate.
“Pandemic-related production suspensions and curtailments across the industry accelerated this decreasing supply trend,” he says. “More specifically, in 2020, I estimate that global diamond production volume decreased by over 20% to about 113 million carats. This is the lowest output since the 1990s.”
Karen Rentmeesters, senior manager of communications from AWDC, similarly says that the sector took a major hit from restrictions caused by the pandemic – in particular hubs such as Israel, the UAE, and India.
“All across the diamond pipeline, from mines that were temporarily closed, flights transporting diamonds that were cancelled, diamond polishing factories that closed, no international diamond trade fairs, to the jewelry retailers that closed shop – business came to a virtual standstill” she says.
The few transactions still taking place were done so at significantly lower prices, with IPIS reporting that the price of diamond per carat had dipped by half since its 2019 survey.
The pandemic also served to accelerate the rise of e-commerce in the industry, a trend that was already emerging as a new player to shape the sector. Of course, with the pandemic causing financial strain on most people, demand for rough and polished diamonds took a hit, even in the online sphere.
With retailers tentatively opening their doors once more, promise is beginning to glimmer for the gemstone, though expectations remain relatively subdued for how long it may take for a full return.
“Latest analysis indicates [prices] have returned to the level of January 2020, which also is a good indicator of a recovery in the market,” says Rentmeesters. “Mind you, 2019 was a bad year for the entire industry, and it will of course take more time to reach a full recovery.”
So where does the industry stand now?
Are diamond’s dog days over?
“As the global economy began reopening, coinciding with the upcoming holiday season, demand for diamonds returned, quite strongly I might add,” says Zimnisky. “This has continued through the end of 2020 and into 2021.”
Indication of a market recovery has been hinted at by stockists, and Rentmeesters adds that prices are stable, and there “is optimism about the rest of the year”. However, the knock-on impacts of this re-injection of wealth back into diamonds is not yet clear, and Zimnisky warns of the possible dangers of this market fluctuation.
“Financial markets are at all-time highs. It’s pretty incredible (and sad) what’s happening right now as far as wealth dislocation,” he says. “People are converting fiat currency to ‘things’, whether it be stocks, precious metals or precious gems. I think there is legitimate concern of currency debasement and inflation given the recent level of stimulus and artificially low interest rates globally.”
In addition, the IPIS research cautions that the rapid shifts in prices during the pandemic could cause ‘another economic crisis for artisanal/small-scale mining (ASM) in the Central African Republic’ further down the line. While ASM is far less common in the diamond industry than in other sectors, according to the Diamond Development Initiative it still makes up between 15%-20% of the sector by volume. As it is typically this part of the industry that is hardest hit in times of uncertainty, it is here that many initiatives have turned their attention to help with Covid-19’s knock-on effects.
Diamond’s ASM workers
Following the pandemic’s outbreak, the EU stepped up governance efforts in the Mano River Union’s diamond sector – with these efforts aimed at combating smuggling and ‘developing alternative livelihoods’ for ASM communities.
DeBeers also has an initiative called the GemFair programme, established with the aim of formalising the ASM diamond mining industry. Operating in Sierra Leone, one of the main issues GemFair has found was ASM workers’ access to finance. Many of the miners receive ‘pre-financing’ from local investors, who themselves came under financial strain during the pandemic.
“The interdependence on these often informal, complex, and opaque financing arrangements often creates a cycle of debt and dependency in normal times, which was further exacerbated by the pandemic,” says Peta Gabriel, media relations manager at DeBeers.
“The engrained dependencies and vulnerabilities within the ASM sector have been further laid bare by the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic. While this is a challenge that requires a collaborative approach among stakeholders within the sector, GemFair is also looking at what we can do to help create fairer and more sustainable access to financing among our members.”
Food security was also a major concern for ASM communities as a result of border closures and poor harvests – meaning the provision of food parcels became GemFair’s operational focus in 2020. In addition, digital training for workers on operational standards was rolled out for those unable to attend in-person sessions and spot-checks of mines within the program were boosted to ensure regulations were being followed.
While the pandemic had unprecedented effects for both ASM workers and larger corporations alike, efforts to create a formalised and sustainable supply chain have long been an industry priority, with public perception placing the diamond sector under the microscope years ago.
Rentmeesters points to mechanisms such as the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties as having long provided stable frameworks for a transparent production line. As with all businesses, the pandemic only served as a reminder of the importance of extending systems of support to vulnerable workers as the industry works towards a full recovery.


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The company on Thursday announced its intention to expand its BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 platform to deliver a more secure environment for iOS and Android smartphones and mobile devices.
"The BlackBerry Secure Work Space solution includes secured client applications for email, calendar, contacts, tasks, memos, secure browsing and document editing for each device that is provisioned via BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10," the company said.
BlackBerry has seen a reducing market share of its smartphones to Android and iOS powered devices in developed markets as the "Bring Your Own Device" movement saw users switching from the Canadian-based company's devices.
There have remained concerns over the security of alternate devices and BlackBerry has been touting its security features of its smartphones, particularly its new BlackBerry 10 platform.
"BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 offers administrators a single, intuitive platform enabling them to effectively and securely manage a variety of devices while protecting their corporate assets and at the same time providing employees the flexibility they desire," said David J Smith, EVP of Enterprise Mobile Computing.
On the consumer front, BlackBerry announced on Wednesday that the popular messaging platform WhatsApp is available on BlackBerry 10.
"WhatsApp is a leading mobile messaging app that connects people to their contacts on several platforms, and we are pleased to work with WhatsApp to bring their service to our customers," said Martyn Mallick, BlackBerry vice president of Global Alliances and Business Development.
BlackBerry announced on Wednesday that it had secured the largest order of its new BlackBerry Z10 smartphones.
The order of one million devices is the largest in the company's history and has gone some way to re-assure market watchers that the company is making a comeback.
- Follow Duncan on Twitter


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Zoomer Robot Dog Learns and has Emotions Demoed at 2013 Toy Fair
Aibo, move over.
Spin Master’s new robot dog toy responds to voice commands, learns and also displays emotive states. Zoomer is the “most technologically advanced robotic dog ever made,” according to Spin Master’s press release.
Zoomer charges via USB cable and will be available at retail in August for $99.99.


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These new-and-improved 3D avatars will be available on Meta Quest, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.
Meta today announced that its lineup of expressive 3D avatars will be getting a major face lift in the form of new facial expressions, assistive devices, and limited edition clothing options. These new-and-improved avatars have already begun rolling out on VR headsets as well as Facebook, Messenger, and—for the first time—Instagram Stories and DM.
Last year Meta spent a significant amount of time and energy on improving its 3D avatars with new customization options that allow users to craft their own digital persona with an impressive amount of detail. Today, the company announced new updates that promise to expand the platform even further.
This includes new facial shapes as well as improvements to the skin shader. In an effort to remain inclusive, the company has added new items such as Cochlear implants, over-the-ear hearing aids, and wheelchairs in a variety of different colors. In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Bengal Tigers, Meta has also introduced limited edition clothing for each team.
As previously stated, these new-and-improved 3D avatars will be available in VR via Meta Quest headsets as well as Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram Stories and DM. You can create separate avatars for each platform or use the same avatar across all three via the Accounts Center.
“Being able to have the same avatar across our platforms is an early step towards making this a reality, and one we’ve been working towards for a long time,” said Aigerim Shorman, General Manager for Avatars and Identity at Meta. “We hope your new virtual self enables you to represent yourself online the way you want to be represented—whether that’s to friends and family, your local community, or beyond.”
These updates will begin rolling out on Quest, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram over the next few months, so don’t freak out if you don’t see the options available right away.
Feature Image Credit: Meta


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Business & Finance
Maytag Corp. has agreed to be bought by a group of investors that would take the well-known appliance maker private, hoping to fix its myriad woes away from Wall Street's sharp scrutiny. The group, led by private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings LLC, announced late last week it is offering $1.13 billion cash. Investors also will assume $975 million of company debt. The company, based in Newton, Iowa, produces appliances under the Maytag, Amana, Hoover, Jenn-Air, and Magic Chef brand names. In the past year Maytag's profits have slumped steeply, the company cut 1,100 salaried workers, closed a plant in Illinois, and may shutter two more domestic factories.
Coty Inc., one of the world's top perfume and cologne makers, said Friday it is buying Unilever's fragrance business for $800 million, bulking up its portfolio with Calvin Klein and other lines such as Vera Wang and Chloe. Privately held Coty, based in New York, is looking to rank among the five largest beauty products companies worldwide. Consumer products giant Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch maker of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Lipton drinks, and Dove soap, has been whittling down brands as it battles rivals like Procter & Gamble Co. and Kraft Foods Inc.
The Air France-KLM board of directors has approved an order for five Boeing 777 cargo freighters, with options to buy three more. The orders, which Air France is still negotiating with The Boeing Co. of Chicago, would be worth about $1 billion at projected list prices, though airlines typically get steep discounts. Delivery of the new cargo planes is expected in late 2008.
In layoff news:
• Bankrupt Interstate Bakeries, the maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, said it will trim 1,400 jobs by closing a New Bedford, Mass., bakery and consolidating operations throughout the Northeast. This is the third plant closing and regional consolidation over the last two months for Interstate, which is based in Kansas City, Mo.
• Ross Products, which makes popular baby formulas Similac and Isomil and adult nutritional bars, plans to cut several hundred jobs, mostly at its Columbus, Ohio, laboratory, factory, and distribution center.
• Alcoa Inc., one of the world's top aluminum producers, said it will shut down an automotive casting plant in Hawesville, Ky., that employs 150 people.


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No one can deny the health benefits of a short ski vacation, yachting trip or a holiday lounging by the pool. But recently, a trend has been emerging for breaks focused on taking a proactive approach to improving physical and mental health.
With a shift in focus from ‘beauty and pampering’ to ‘health and wellness’ within the luxury spa world, Elite speaks to the experts for the reasons behind the move and takes a look at some of the most exciting properties at the forefront of the wellness trend.
It’s official: Today’s hectic pace of life is having a negative impact on our health. From jetlag to sedentary board meetings, overindulgence and the stresses of professional life, the modern world is doing little to help us in the quest to live better for longer.
Which is why it’s no surprise that wellness tourism is a sector that’s been on the rise in recent years – with the world’s jetsetters leading the charge. Now worth an impressive a $438.6 billion to the global market, this area of travel is predicted to grow almost twice as fast as overall global tourism from now until 2017, currently accounting for about 14% ($438.6 billion) of all tourism expenditures.
So what exactly does the term ‘wellness’ represent? Ultimately, it refers to a state of “complete physical and mental wellbeing”, according to a recent report by the Global Spa & Wellness Summit, and any activities that can contribute to achieving or maintaining this state.
From meditation and tai chi to mountainbiking and intravenous vitamin drips, wellness resorts and spas are offering a range of activities to improve health, prevent disease and help you come out feeling revitalized and ready to face life’s challenges with a new-found focus.
But why are global travelers suddenly taking their health into their own hands and using their vacation time to address health concerns such as stress, weight loss and fitness levels?
Karina Stewart, founder of Kamalaya Wellness Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, says that it’s all about taking responsibility for your future wellbeing: “I think that people realise that they have to participate in their health and wellbeing and in how they’re going to age over time.
“I believe they now know that having money and then expecting to go to a doctor and have the doctor take care of them, that is a model that has let us all down.”
At Kamalaya, guests are offered an extensive range of services and treatments – from Ayurvedic massage and acupuncture through to stress management sessions and nutritional guidance – with the focus on the personal goal of the individual, whether it be weight loss, detox or sleep enhancement.
Results oriented, holistic programs are key to the concept in general, as is a shift in focus within spas away from superficial beauty treatments and temporary respite from stress to more long-term health benefits.
“Previously, when people have thought of a spa they’ve just thought of a facial or a treatment; it’s been about a bit of relaxation but with no real health benefits,” explains Helen Greenhow of specialist UK tour operator Wellbeing Escapes.
“And now, it’s really about health and it’s about, ‘Yes, you look better’, but that’s more a bonus result; it’s not the aim.
“It’s about making yourself feel better from within, kick-starting the release of toxins. So more and more places are researching and hiring appropriate staff, taking a philosophy – whether it’s traditional Chinese medicine or macrobiotics or raw food – and applying it.”
“It’s lifestyle. It’s holistic,” says Stewart of Kamalaya’s philosophy. “It’s the recognition that we have the capacity to have a very big impact on our state of wellbeing and our health state through lifestyle and prevention. And prevention is key.”
So what can guests hope to take away with them after a short break for a week or two at a luxury wellness destination?
“Nutritional and fitness advice, meditation; different tools that they can use as little or as much as they want,” says Stewart.
“The experience lasts for a very very long time – it’s much deeper than skin deep. And they have tools to keep reinforcing that. Sometimes it’s only a couple of lifestyle changes, but those changes, if they’re really integrated, build and last for the individual.”
Greenhow is in agreement: “It’s not just about being healthy when they’re away; it’s about kick-starting a change when they’re back. Just a few small changes can make quite a big difference.”
Read on to discover some of the best wellness resorts and spas from around the globe.
(Image Credit: Kamalaya Koh Samui. Copyright © by Kamalaya Co.Ltd.)


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The local economy may be a mess, crime a constant threat and living costs still ruinous, but one of New York City's consolations has been some of the nation's kinder prices for beer. Now, the nation's largest beer producer is pitted against the city's independent beer distributors in a battle whose outcome, the distributors and city officials say, could create a wholesaling monopoly and raise prices by a dollar or more a case.
Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., which supplies more than half of the city's beer, added a dollar a case on Monday to wholesale prices statewide on its most popular brands. The company will issue rebates only to those retailers who buy all their Budweiser and other company brands directly from the company's four franchised wholesalers.
The city's 70 independent distributors call this a scheme to drive them out of business. Anheuser-Busch would then raise prices gradually but substantially, city officials and the distributors say, costing New Yorkers at least $100 million a year. Seeing a Sinister Plan
Anheuser-Busch, based in St. Louis, responded that, far from raising prices, it plans to offer some discounts through the end of the year. "This is not a price increase," the company said in a statement, adding that its competitors have similar strategies. Independent distributors will still have a market, said Joseph V. Corcoran, vice president of the eastern sales region for the company. The goals, the company said, are to control quality and to persuade New Yorkers, who guzzle Bud like no other brand but pass up Bud Light, Busch and Michelob, to try these other company brews.
Carlos D. Nazario, owner of Metro Beer and Soda Distributors in the South Bronx, sees a more sinister plan, to kill off entrepreneurs who built Budweiser's popularity. Mr. Nazario, president of the 325-member Empire State Beer Distributors Association, said businesses like his ventured into neighborhoods where major brewers had scant distribution.Continue reading the main story
When his father, a Puerto Rican immigrant, founded Metro Beer 22 years ago, Budweiser was a minor presence, Mr. Nazario said. Now, it is so popular in the city's Hispanic neighborhoods that it accounts for 58 percent of his business, he said.
From the warehouse and store he bought just last year, his view now includes the Major Deegan Expressway and a dark future. "I don't think I can survive," he said.
Mr. Nazario stocked up before Monday, when his cost went up a dollar to $11.55 a case. But by the end of the week, he said, he will have to restock, passing that extra dollar along to the bars, restaurants, groceries and bodegas he serves. Inevitably, he said, they will switch their business to the franchise distributors to capture rebates of $1.15, including an extra 15-cent incentive.
Mr. Nazario's customers said they would have no choice but to buy elsewhere. "Let me tell you something," said Auero Soto, who owns the Metro Superette in Parkchester in the Bronx. "If the beer company raises a dollar from Carlos, he has to raise a dollar from us, and I have to raise a dollar from the customer. The customer is going to go somewhere else." Companies like Mr. Nazario's are also called home distributors, reflecting a time when each neighborhood and ethnic enclave had its own breweries, and the brew was delivered to homes. The tradition has persisted to the extent that about half the city's distributors are Puerto Rican, Dominican, Asian or black, often reflecting the makeup of their neighborhoods.
The independent distributors do what anyone trying to keep down the costs of a beer blast would do: they comparison shop. Often, they buy beer from upstate wholesalers willing to undercut the wholesalers closer to the city.
Leslie Gersing, a spokeswoman for Robert Abrams, the state Attorney General, said Mr. Abrams has long fought Anheuser-Busch's practices in court. "It's just another example of their anti-competitive behavior," she said.
Mark Green, the city's Consumer Affairs Commissioner, said he would urge the Justice Department to start an antitrust investigation of Anheuser-Busch. "It's a case of monopoly muscle," he said.
Once the company drives independent distributors out of business, he said, it will gradually raise prices $1 to $2 a case, with other brewers most likely to follow. Retail prices in the city, ranging from about $11 to $16 a case, now tend to be 10 to 20 percent less than the national average, he said. On sales of 100 million cases of beer a year, Mr. Green said, the added cost to New Yorkers would be at least $100 million.Continue reading the main story


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AT&T Launches New 4G LTE-A Network, Prepares for Galaxy S5 Release
AT&T has reportedly gone live with its first 4G LTE-Advanced network this week in Chicago, with others coming extremely soon. We’ve been seeing “LTE-A” devices lately from Korea and a few other markets, offering a new faster LTE-Advanced network, and now AT&T is first with it in the US.
According to reports from GigaOm, AT&T has officially confirmed Chicago is one of a few cities throughout the US that already has AT&T 4G LTE-A speeds employed. Something that promises a better, faster, and impressive network for all smartphone users. So what is AT&T 4G LTE-A? A blend or “carrier aggregation” of two 4G LTE network bands into one extremely fast and stable connection for our devices.
We’ve seen a few LTE-A devices over the past 6 months. Most notably was the Snapdragon 800 powered Galaxy S4 in Korea and a few other regions, which employed Qualcomm’s latest chip which is capable of these new faster networks speeds. For now the only AT&T devices capable of LTE-A are a few wireless hotspot units.
Samsung was one of the first to experience these speeds, and the new Galaxy S5 uses Qualcomm’s improved Snapdragon 801, which also has full 4G LTE-A support built-in. So while AT&T hasn’t confirmed the Galaxy S5 will be its first smartphone that can take advantage of these new speeds, it seems likely. Although they do offer the Snapdragon 800-powered LG G2, which theoretically also supports LTE-A.
Read: Samsung Galaxy S5 Hands-On Video
So what does this mean to average consumers using AT&T with a capable device? Potential download speeds of up to 110Mbps. Basically faster and better internet speeds. Something that far exceeds what’s available today for smartphones and tablets. The blend of two networks into one with LTE-A also ensures a stable connection, one that won’t slow down with heavy usage from millions of devices, since they’ve doubled the bandwidth.
Of course, the Galaxy S5 is expected to be available throughout the US and on AT&T in the early weeks of April, which could come with an announcement of LTE-A from AT&T. Expect more details from AT&T to arrive soon as they prepare and launch LTE-A in more regions across the US.


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NADAguides, a website that offers car prices and specifications for customers, has announced that compacts are stirring more interest in the U.S. of A than before. According to their figures, consumer interest in the compact segment increased by 96 percent between January and March 2008. This number is based on searches Americans are doing for compact cars.
Every year, Consumer Reports picks what it thinks are the best and worst cars of the past twelve months. This year, a lot of the winners (or losers, as the case may be) are retreads. The Honda Accord (best family sedan), Infiniti G35 (best upscale sedan), Mazda MX-5 Miata (most fun to drive), Toyota RAV4 (small SUV) and Toyota Sienna (best minivan) all won the same categories last year. The Accord, for that matter, has won six years in a row.
I've written in this space on previous occasions about the reality of specific fuel consumption (the amount of fuel needed to produce a given amount of power) in modern cars. While the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards have remained static for the past two decades, the power output of modern engines has skyrocketed at the same time that mpg numbers have stagnated. When car-makers whine about not being able meet proposed new standards, it simply doesn't ring true because if they can make s


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The Second Class - Knowing of Chinese E-commerce
On October 25th, the International Education Institute held the second class--the online shopping theme course for international students, which aims to let foreign students know of the development of Chinese e-commerce.
Before the class began, international students showed great interest in Chinese online shopping and made careful preparations. After the class began, members of the HIP International Student Center (HISC) introduced the shopping software such as Taobao and Tianmao and the characteristics of online shopping. Everyone also learned about the differences between the East and the West online shopping.
After the members of the center explained, the students also raised various questions about online shopping. Everyone exchanged ideas, through this class, facilitating their shopping in China.
HISC will enrich the content of the second class, so stay tuned!


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Netflix, the streaming giant and Apple, the tech and music master were a nice looking couple for some years. Then Apple started to think about replacing its successful partner. The once mutual profitable alliance is quickly vanishing. Winter is coming
Netflix and Apple were working in symbiosis. Netflix provided content and original shows and Apple provided the platform to sell the plans as well as the hardware to enjoy the service. This doesn’t come free for Netflix, 30% of the subscription (on the first year) goes to Apple. Upon renewal, it comes down to 15%. Despite the toll it’s taking on Netflix’ profits, it remains a profitable partnership.
Great hardware and an impulsive fingerprint
Apple provides great hardware to use the Netflix platform. Whether it be on an iPhone, iPad or a Mac. It’s also supported by the Apple TV so Apple fans can stream like crazy.
But this is not the only advantage. The subscription process through the Apple store is very fluid and a single readout of the fingerprint opens the way to an impulsive buy. Much easier than the regular process on the Netflix website. With 40% of subscriptions being made from a computer, the in-app purchase is a major part of the Netflix strategy.
What’s in it for Apple?
Obviously, 30% of Netflix subscriptions on Apple devices does add up to quite a war treasure. It’s one of the highest grossing apps on the App Store with close to $11.5 billion in annual revenue last year alone. No development, no upgrades necessary: easy money. So why does this seemingly mutually profitable agreement go the way of the dodo?
Streaming and original content are the missing link for Apple
Apple is one of the leaders of online music and films. With iTunes, one can buy tracks, albums, films (and ringtones!). Apple has already launched its music streaming service: Apple Music. But if you seek film streaming, there are no plans for such a service. All one can do is rent a movie and watch it within the days following the purchase. Hardly the current viewing model of most people.
With many platforms trying to take a bite at the streaming cake (DC, Disney, Amazon…) Apple can’t stay away much longer.
Apple’s plans for 2019
Here’s the news that aroused Netflix’ anger. Apple will launch its own streaming service in 2019. With the massive funds at its disposal, Apple will quickly produce its own content. This should be Apple’s key sales pitch. Netflix has had to wait to make enough money to start producing shows, but Apple will launch with content creation. The listing of current projects is dazzling! The filmmaker list includes Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams , M. Night Shyamalan (6th Sense). Jennifer Anniston will make her first return to a series since Friends. Oprah Winfrey will team up with Apple to draw her huge following to the platform. Quite enough to get Netflix worried about the upcoming year.
With this announcement, Apple is joining the ranks of Netflix predators. And Netflix sees no reason to continue filling up Apple’s treasure chest so it can create even more competitive content. The first blow includes removing the possibility to pay using in-app subscriptions. Users from 33 countries will now be directed to a page out of the App Store to complete their subscription. Will Apple respond with a change in policy regarding in-app purchase? Or will the fruit company wait for the launch of its streaming platform to respond to Netflix?
All we know for sure is that this is only the beginning and it could get dirty.


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For the four-week month ended August 25, Kohl’s Corp. reported that comparable store sales increased 3.4% versus the month last year. Total sales increased 5.3% compared to the month ended August 27, 2011.
In commenting on the monthly results, Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO, said, “Our August sales reflect improvement in our merchandise content, inventory levels and marketing strategies. All regions and lines of business reported higher sales for the month. Best performing businesses were footwear, men’s and children’s.”
Standard & Poor’s analyst Jason Asaeda, in a research note, pointed out that Kohl’s suffered when customers resisted price increases taken last fall. The retailer then tried to reassert price leadership, and, when it began to gain traction, particularly at the opening pricepoint, ran into inventory problems that left sales on the table. He noted, however, that Kohl’s is entering the fall season in an improved stock position. And Asaeda added that he expects Kohl’s to sharpen it value message through pricing and advertising in an effort to gain additional customer share of wallet.
Kohl’s operates 1,134 stores in 49 of the United States. In expression of a commitment to sustainability, Kohl’s this week announced an expansion of its electric vehicle charging station initiative. The retailer will add 36 new stations across 18 additional Kohl’s locations by the end of fall 2012. With the expansion, Kohl’s shoppers can access a total of 101 charging stations at 52 Kohl’s locations across 14 states. Already, the retailer has more than 120 solar-powered stores, more than 700 Energy Star-labeled locations and nearly 300 LEED-certified stores in the U.S.


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Swirling about the rumor mill are… ummm… rumors that Courtney Love is planning to launch her own clothing line. Yes, Courtney Love who is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to American Express is in excellent standing to run a business. Really, how could this go wrong?
Allegedly the line will feature, “cotton ribbed body suits, cashmere harem pants, and a ruby [wtf?] stitched into every outfit” according to the Daily News.
Peaches Geldof is fueling rumors with Twitters reading, “Sleepover with ms Courtney love last night was funnn. Ate chocolate cake in bed and had a hotel-room fashion show of her new designs.”
This sounds wrong on so many levels.


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Megalithic is a massive update that set to be released on June 27th. It brings the Chaos Core Crafter which is helpful when you craft all of 15 Trove classes, new mounts, wings, and brand-new costumes. If you beat the baddies of Adventure Worlds, Stashes can be available to unlock more epic styles.
It's high time to prepare enough flux for the upcoming update. Try to visit www.u4gm.com for cheap Trove flux for sale.


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New Delhi:(IANS) A retarded growth in manufacturing output slowed India’s overall industrial production expansion to 2.7 percent for May — against 4.1 percent in April, official data showed on Friday.
As per the quick estimates of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the growth in manufacturing output fell from 5.1 percent in April and 5.9 percent in May 2014 to 2.2 percent in the month under review.
The manufacturing sector, which has the maximum weightage in the IIP, grew by 3.2 percent between April and May. The mining and electricity output expanded by 2.8 percent and 6 percent respectively.
The performance of mining and electricity sectors was subdued in April. The mining sector inched up by 0.6 percent while electricity segment slipped by 0.5 percent in April.
The cumulative growth for the first two months of this fiscal was 3 percent. In April, when the overall industrial output had expanded by 4.1 percent, industry saw it as emerging greenshoots of economic recovery, especially since the expansion was led by manufacturing.
“In terms of industries, 12 out of the 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during May 2015 as compared to the corresponding month the previous year,” an official statement said.
Going into further classification, the growth in May 2015 was 6.4 percent in basic goods, 1.8 percent in capital goods and 1.2 percent in intermediate goods. But outputs of consumer durables and consumer non-durables declined by 3.9 percent and 0.1 percent respectively.
According to the data, items showing high positive growth during the month under review were lubricating oil (123.7 percent), copper and its products (86.8 percent), wood furniture (64.1 percent), vitamins (34.5 percent), tea (29.2 percent) and carbon steel (22 percent).
Items showing high negative growth were: woollen carpets (-43.7 percent), grinding wheels (-42.9 percent), viscose staple fibre raw (-41.2 percent), ayurvedic medicaments(-34.5 percent), aerated waters and soft drinks (-31.6 percent), fruit pulp (-29.9 percent), telephone instruments including mobile phones and accessories (-29.4 percent) and tractors (-27.2 percent).
Indian industry commented that the manufacturing sector growth is picking up though it remains sluggish.
“Measures taken up in the last few months to expedite the project clearances and also in the area of ease of doing business have started yielding results and we are hopeful that growth will accelerate in coming months,” said Jyotsna Suri, president, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
“Negative consumer demand growth is an area of concern and we hope that Government would bring out specific measures to stimulate demand in the economy,” Suri noted.
India Inc. also pointed out the silverlining being the positive growth in capital goods sector which indicated turnaround in investments scenario.
Dhananjay Sinha, head of research, economist and strategist for Emkay Global Financial Services said: “Consumption oriented sectors, in line with our expectations continued to show weakness. Weakness in consumption is indicative of weak rural demand and low government revenue expenditure.”
Debopam Chaudhuri, chief economist of ZyFin Research said that: “IIP growth remains sticky at an average level of around 3 percent. Since January 2015, there has been no clear uptrend visible within the data, suggesting India is still struggling to break itself from the shackles of the previous slowdown.”


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Not a day seems to go by that I don’t hear from an angry car rental customer — folks like Craig Solomon, who rented a car in England from Avis for two weeks recently.
Can we talk about entitlement?
When people say you learn more from your failures than your successes, William Seavey is the first to agree. He bought a Samsung top-loader washing machine, recommended by Consumer Reports, at Sears. “It turned out to be a lemon,” says Seavey, a consultant based in Cambria, Calif.
When we write, our readers write back. And we take notice.
Adria Gross’ problem looked unsolvable.
TripAdvisor doesn’t want us to write about Morna McNulty.
Eleanor Eigen’s Booking.com case is unfixable, but it raises a question readers often ask, and that’s difficult to answer: What do you tell someone who doesn’t have a case?
This is not a story about David Dalka’s web hosting provider. Technically, it’s about the terms of Dalka’s service, how his hosting company interpreted and how it executed them.
I thought I was upgrading my iPhone a few months ago. But that’s not all that got upgraded.
Would it surprise you if I said consumers don’t believe the personal and financial data they submit to corporations is
The basics of good customer service, like courtesy and attentiveness, may be free. But great service? That’s expensive. Consider what
Customer service isn’t what it used to be.
As Juanita Centanni boarded a recent Cayman Airways flight from Tampa to Grand Cayman, she braced herself for an awful travel experience.
It’s the proverbial man-bites-dog story for consumer reporters: an over-the-top customer service experience in which an employee goes the extra mile.
No one likes a whiner.
Ever apologized to a business? If you said “never,” then maybe you don’t have kids.
Deadbeats. Gate lice. Entitleds.
Jim Davies agrees with me that the Transportation Security Administration desperately needs a top-to-bottom reform. Like me, he wasn’t surprised when a Government Accountability Office study revealed widespread employee misconduct, including screeners involved in theft and drug smuggling activities, as well as circumventing mandatory screening procedures for passengers and baggage.
Spectacular customer service failures are the grist of my consumer advocacy mill. But some of the loudest implosions are off
Early boarding privileges are typically reserved for frequent fliers and passengers with obvious disabilities. But on a recent JetBlue Airways
I spend a lot of time harping on customers who screw up. Sometimes I can’t help myself. Not only are the cases interesting, but they’re also instructive.
Customers do the dumbest things.
As a frequent car rental customer, Parker Mann has endured countless sales pitches for optional insurance. But recently, the hard sell efforts have crossed a line, he says.
The best way to fight bad service is right now, in real time.
This slot is normally reserved for complaints, since that’s pretty much all I get on this site. But every now and then, a company will actually read a grievance and respond.
I was surprised by some of the comments about Dell after one reader’s complaint that the company forced her to pay extra to talk with an American call center. Maybe I shouldn’t have been.
When the service is so awful that you feel like taking a swing at an employee, or falling to the ground and wailing, give yourself a little time-out and watch these videos.


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Pay -Tv operator, Multichoice Nigeria has announced another price increment across its DStv and GOtv packages by at least 19%.
Coming as the second increment this year after the first one was implemented on May 1, 2023, Multichoice said the latest increment takes effect from Monday, November 6.
While the increment announced in May was between 16.3% to 18, depending on the bouquet, the company is announcing a 19 to 20% increase across its packages this time.
New prices for DStv packages
According to the notice sent to its subscribers, customers on the DStv Premium package will be paying N29,500 for their monthly subscription starting from November 6, a 20% increase from the N24,500 they are currently paying.
The price of the Compact+ bouquet has also increased to N19,800 from N16,600 monthly, which is a 19% increment.
DStv said subscribers on its Compact bouquet will now pay N12,500 as against N10,500 they are currently paying, representing a 19% increase; while those on the Confam package are to pay N7,400, also a 19% increase compared to N6,200 currently being paid.
Under the new price regime, viewers on DStv Yanga bouquet will now be paying N4,200 for the monthly subscription, a 20% increase over N3,500 currently being paid.
New Gotv prices
For GOtv, Multichoice said customers on its Supa Plus package will now be paying N12,500, a 19% increase from the current price of N10,500. Its Supa bouquet will now go for N7,600 as opposed to the N6,400 currently being charged.
GOtv Max subscription has also increased to N5,700 from N4,850, while its Jolli package now goes for N3,950 from N3,300. Multichoice said its customers on the lowest GOtv package, Jinja, will now be paying N2,700 monthly, as opposed to N2,250 they are currently paying.
While Multichoice are yet to make any official statement on the new price increment, the company cited economic challenges in May when it announced the first increment.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 26.72% in September from 25.80% in August of 2023.
“Due to the various economic challenges impacting our business operations, we have had to review the price of our packages to continue delighting our customers with great entertainment, anytime and anywhere.
“MultiChoice acknowledges the difficult economic climate and thus kept the increase at the lowest possible point whilst ensuring sustainability and provision of quality services,” it said in May.


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New Potter Book Breaks Sales Records
NEW YORK – There's clearly something about Harry.
The new "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (search) sold an astonishing 6.9 million copies in the United States in its first 24 hours — averaging better than 250,000 sales per hour and smashing the record held by the previous Potter release.
"This is a cause for celebration, not just for Scholastic, but for book lovers everywhere," said Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Children's Books (search), author J.K. Rowling's (search) U.S. publisher.
Sales for the sixth installment of Rowling's fantasy series easily outpaced those for the last Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which came out in 2003 and sold 5 million copies in the first 24 hours.
Acknowledging that some stores quickly ran out of books two years ago, Scholastic has already increased the print run for "Half-Blood Prince" from 10.8 million copies to 13.5 million.
British publisher Bloomsbury announced Monday that just over 2 million copies sold on the first day of release, a 13 percent increase over the last book and a record for that country.
Anticipated from the moment fans finished "Order of the Phoenix," the new book has been available virtually everywhere, from price clubs and supermarkets to the Scholastic Web site. Holton said Sunday that a big factor in the new sales record was a six-fold increase in the number of Potter bookstore parties, from 800 to 5,000, with both superstores and independent retailers dramatically increasing their participation.
Even allowing for deep discounts on the $29.99 release, "Half-Blood Prince" easily generated more than $100 million in revenue, topping the combined estimated take for the weekend's top two movies, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Wedding Crashers." "When a book beats out movies, we're in great shape," Holton said.
Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations, said he did not believe that Potter pulled kids away from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which starred Johnny Depp as the reclusive candy king Willy Wonka.
"With a $55 million opening, it's hard to say anything had a negative effect on the movie's performance," Dergarabedian said Sunday. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was the biggest debut ever for Depp, topping the $46.6 million opening weekend of his 2003 hit, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble Inc. estimated 1.3 million U.S. sales for the latest Potter book in its first 48 hours, around 400,000 higher than for the first 48 hours of "Order of the Phoenix." Rival superstore chain Borders Group Inc. reported a record 850,000 in "Half-Blood Prince" sales worldwide in the first day, 100,000 greater than for the debut of the last Potter book.
Although "Half-Blood Prince" only went on sale midnight Saturday, some readers have already decided to pass their copies on to others. Used editions were available through eBay, Amazon.com and Alibris.com.
Unlike most blockbusters, "Half-Blood Prince" is also a hit with critics, getting raves from The New York Times, The Seattle Times, The Associated Press and others. Many found it Rowling's deepest, most accomplished work, with a tragic conclusion that left even reviewers in tears.
A dissenting opinion came from the San Francisco Chronicle, where David Kipen observed of the 600-plus page novel: "A major character dies by the end of the latest Harry Potter book; readers who bore easily may feel a bit done in themselves.
"It's not that 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is dull, exactly. ... No, the main problem is that J.K. Rowling has now written six of these bricks. Even if they were getting better, they're certainly not getting any fresher."
As for the author, she defends her boy wizard. "He does become more battle hardened. So he's now ready to go out fighting. He's after revenge," Rowling said Monday in an interview on NBC's "Today."


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The head of Renault, Luca de Meo, said that the company will withdraw cars equipped with internal combustion engines from the European market by 2030, Automotive News reports. Thus, the elimination of internal combustion engines will be five years ahead of the ban on the sale of fossil fuel vehicles in the 27 countries of the European Union, which is likely to give Renault time to smoothly adapt to a changing market.
Renault will be “a 100 percent electric brand in Europe by 2030,” de Meo told a press conference at a Renault technical center near Paris. Back in the summer, the top manager called the goal of 90% electrification of the European model range by the end of the decade, but the company probably decided to speed up the process.
Now the Romanian “daughter” of Renault – Dacia – has only one electric model. This is the Spring crossover introduced last year, which is the most affordable battery car on the European market. The rest of the Dacia are still equipped with internal combustion engines.
At the beginning of 2021, Renault announced that it would launch at least four electric vehicles over four years as part of its Renaulution strategy. The first “green” novelty should be the Renault 5 EV – the serial embodiment of the 5 Prototype concept car. According to unofficial information, Renault will launch two more compact electric SUVs and a van next.


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It’s the tale of the little book store that could.
Greenlight Bookstore, which opened three years ago in the middle of the worst era for book sales since the Inquisition, will expand its Fort Greene shop to include more space for events, office clutter and yes, even room for e-books.
Greenlight recently collaborated with wine shop neighbors the Greene Grape to put a coffee bar, a full-sized kitchen and more office space next to the existing bookshop on Fulton Street.
The result will allow for more space for events like book signings and readings. And starting this September, Greenlight will also serve as the kiosk vendor and online distributor of fellow Fort Greene giant, Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Even in an age when print is supposedly dead, there’s no secret to co-owners Jessica Stockton Bagnulo and Rebecca Fitting’s success.
“Great independent bookstores are often neighborhood bookstores,” Stockton Bagnulo said. “Figuring out how to serve your community is, I think, one of the keys to long-term success in our business. But a large part of [our success] has to do with Fort Greene. We’ve been fortunate that our community has been hugely supportive.”
Other area print dinosaurs — such as Atlantic Bookshop and DARE Books — have closed, but Greenlight hopes to avoid that fate by being at the vanguard.
Stockton Bagnulo and Fitting will soon go where few bookshops have gone before: they’ll even sell you an e-book, the pixel format that supposedly spelled — in 1s and 0s — the death of the modern bookshop.
Here’s how it works: All you need is a Google Books account, along with a Greenlight account. Then, just browse for books on Greenlight’s website, add an e-book to your cart and check out. The e-books are stored in the cloud, where you can access them from any device with a Google Books app.
“We’re in the business of selling books — not paper,” Bagnulo said. “E-books are another way readers are experiencing books, and we want to be the best bookstore we can be.”
Greenlight Bookstore [686 Fulton St. at S. Portland Avenue in Fort Greene, (718) 246-0200].


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Watch the GTA V Xbox One/PS4 launch trailer
Rockstar Games releases official launch trailer for new version of upcoming open-world game.
Rockstar Games on Monday released the launch trailer for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Grand Theft Auto V, which will be released in just five days on November 18.
This trailer will also start showing up on TV this week, Rockstar writes on its website.
The new versions of GTA V run in 1080p/30fps on Xbox One and PS4, while the PC version will support 4K resolution when it's released in January 2015.


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Primark has announced that the closure of stores across Europe could lead to a loss of £190m in sales over the coming month.
As a result of the ongoing spread of coronavirus across mainland Europe, the value retailer has had to close stores in France, Spain and Austria, accounting for 20% of its selling space and 30% of its sales.
In a trading update, Primark said “we had expected sales of £190m from these stores over the next four weeks”.
These stores will remain closed until respective governments permit them to re-open. Affected store staff are currently being paid as normal.
John Bason, chief financial officer at the retailer’s owner, Associated British Foods, told Drapers: “We’re saying we can’t mitigate and we will have a profit shortfall. This is about continuing to carefully monitor the supply chain and make sure we look after our employees.”
The high-street retailer also said like-for-like sales across the rest of its store portfolio had been in decline over the last two weeks including the UK, which represents 41% of sales. This decline has accelerated over the past few days as a result of reduced footfall.
In a trading update, it stated: ”We are managing the business appropriately but do not expect to significantly mitigate the effect of the contribution lost from these sales.”
Bason added: “If anyone is worried about the liquidity of the business they should remember that ABF group has got £80m of cash.”
Supply shortages from China “are now expected to be minimal”, as most of the factories which supply Primark have reopened.
At this time, Associated British Foods (ABF), Primark’s owner, has not provided guidance for the remainder of the current financial year for the fashion retailer.
Bason called for an urgent review of business rates under the current circumstances.
“The time has come to look at business rates, and not just for small businesses,” he said.
First-half adjusted operating profit for the group is expected to be ahead of last year on both a lease-adjusted and a reported basis.


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Coolpad releases Magview 4 phablet phone with 5.9 display + high-end features. Check Coolpad Magview 4 specs, details, review.
Oppo N1 isn’t only the one to launch a 5.9 large size phablet phone today, as we see Coolpad joining the competition by unveiling MagView 4 right away although availability is confirmed for October release.
This is not the first phablet phone released by Coolpad as we had Grand 4 9970 released in August this year. It doesn’t just sport a beautiful 5.9 inch 1080p Sharp display but the real power comes in with the inclusion of NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor using Cortex A15 architecture providing seamless speed with exciting performance coupled with 2 GB RAM and a GPU unit.
The hard-earned specifications don’t end there as we see dual SIM support on the phone with internal roaming, 13 mega pixel splendid camera, 2 mega pixel front camera, 16 GB internal storage, micro SD card slot with Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean out of box.
Coolpad Magview 4 Specifications –
Update November 5, 2021: The device is now discontinued. You can check out other tablets and you can go through the top writing tablet.
This post was last modified on November 17, 2021 5:23 PM


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want more than $ 1 billion in patent license fees from Verizon, according to a report. The fees are for the use of over 230 networking equipment, Reuters said Wednesday, referring to a source.
Verizon is reportedly using equipment through other companies based on Huawei patents covering core networks, internet technology, and wireless infrastructures. Verizon and Huawei representatives met last week in New York to talk about whether the tool could break the Huawei patent, Reuters said.
"These problems are bigger than just Verizon," a Verizon spokesman told Reuters. "Given the broader geopolitical context, every problem affecting Huawei has implications for our entire industry and also raises national and international issues."
Neither Huawei nor Verizon responded immediately to the request for comment.
The US Blacklisted Huawei network equipment in May and President Donald Trump signed an executive order that essentially forbids the company in the light of the national security issues that Huawei had in close contact with the Chinese government, a charge the company has repeatedly denied.
The credit rating agency S & P Global said on Wednesday that the impact on the technical industry off"Can be great," including stymieing the growth of American tech companies.
Last Wednesday, Huawei confirmed to CNET that it was protesting against the US ban on an ex parte memo to the Federal Communications Commission.
CNET gets a commission from the retail.


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Australia just got a fancy new $5 note, but there’s a major design issue creating problems across the country.
The transparent anti-counterfeiting strip is causing the note to be rejected by automated shop readers and vending machines when customers attempt to pay.
Woolworths is recalibrating self-service check-outs and vending machines, while Kmart self-service check outs are still reportedly not accepting the notes. Even TAB betting terminals and pokie machines have been affected.
“This clearly seems to be a failure of planning and there is no reason why they shouldn’t be accepting the new $5 note,” Erin Turner from Choice said.
“They need to get their act together and fix it as quickly as possible.”


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Heading towards the end of 2018 iCar Asia continues to push the envelope with technology, marketing and products that satisfy customers and consumers.
Moving from just classified listings into new areas is the key to success. August saw the launch of an Auction platform to sell consumer and fleet cars to Used Car Dealers and is proving to be a huge potential growth area. Over AUD$1m in cars have been sold so far.
Video Listings, a first in the region, is getting excellent take up from Used Car Dealers, and from a consumer perspective it becomes very enticing to see a car via video, rather than the traditional images only listings. These listings, in terms of engagement and action, perform over 20%+ better than static listings.
On the Customer side a Lead Marketplace platform is about to be launched, in conjunction with the continuing focus on New Car sales, that will help New Car Dealers completely manage the leads generated by the iCar Asia consumer websites. Not only does this new platform allow lead management and nurturing, it will also allow Dealer’s to manage their sales team and inventory. New Car is a particular focus for iCar Asia with new car sales on the increase across Malaysia (up 7% YTD September*), Thailand (up 20% YTD September*) and Indonesia (up 7% YTD September*). This is a marked difference to a market like Australia which was down 1% YTD September (-14% for Passenger cars alone).
Audience coming to iCar Asia’s websites has increased by 40% YoY and driven mainly by Malaysia’s Carlist.my, which for the first time ever, exceeded an audience of 4 million in October 2018 (up 87% on October 2017).
“2018 has been a revolutionary year iCar Asia. Innovation with products such as Video Listings, iCar Data and a newly about to launch Lead Marketplace for Car Dealers will ensure that iCar Asia continues on the trajectory of being a major force in the ASEAN region” says Hamish Stone, CEO of iCar Asia.


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and Samsung have been working on ways to rid customers of traditional
lithium-ion batteries used in notebook computers. Both companies are looking
towards fuel cells and the technology is very promising.
Samsung displayed a version of its Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
(DMFC) in late December that was capable of powering a Q35
ultra-portable notebook eight hours a day for a month. The fuel cell, which
contained an energy density of 650Wh/L and total energy storage of 1,200Wh, was
contained in a rather large box that was nearly as wide as the notebook and
roughly twice as tall.
Samsung has made great strides to perfect its DMFC and recently
showcased an even smaller design at its company showroom. Samsung appears
to have shaved a few inches off the device in length/width/height. The DMFC now
looks to be roughly the size of a couple of extended batteries stacked side by
Samsung reports that the fuel cell is still capable of
operating a notebook for up to a month.
Despite the advances being made in fuel cell technology, we
are still a few
years away from fuel cells being commercially viable.
"Though we still need to solve ‘going smaller and
sturdier’ issues, I think that we have made a technical quantum leap in
commercialization," said SAIT VP Dr. Hyuk Change in November. "Within
2~3 years, the fuel cells including those for laptops currently in development
with Samsung SDI will be widely used as it is forecasted to acquire a stable
market with lower price lines."


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Which Segment Dragged on Beyond Meat in Q2?
When Beyond Meat Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND) reported its most recent quarterly results after the markets closed on Tuesday, the faux meat firm posted a net loss of $0.02 per share and $113.3 million in revenue. The consensus estimates had called for a net loss of $0.02 per share and revenue of $99.84 million. The fiscal second quarter of last year reportedly had a per-share net loss of $0.05 and $67.3 million in revenue.
During the latest quarter, net revenues increased by 68.5% year over year. Growth in volume sold was driven mainly by increased retail channel sales, resulting from distribution gains both domestically and abroad, higher sales velocities at existing retail customers and contribution from new product introductions.
In terms of the breakdown, Beyond Meat’s Retail segment revenue increased 192% year over year to $99.6 million, and the Restaurant and Foodservice segment revenue decreased 58.6% to $13.7 million.
Beyond Meat has still suspended its outlook for the 2020 full year. The firm said that while many of the company’s foodservice customers have reopened, demand has been increasing in that segment, but retail has been especially strong and this looks to improve as reopening continues. Consensus estimates call for $0.07 in earnings per share and $129.54 million in revenue for the coming quarter.
On the books, cash and cash equivalents totaled $222.3 million at the end of the quarter, with total outstanding debt of $50.0 million.
Shares of Beyond Meat traded down about 6% on Wednesday, at $133.25 in a 52-week range of $48.18 to $172.29. The consensus price target is $110.96.
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